We already know that Google collects every bit of info it can about its users, and stores it for unknown uses.

Now it’s been revealed that for 3 years, Google has collected personal information from unknowing people. This data was collected during the Google Street View mapping process. Google claims the data collection happened due to an error in programing.

This admission is the result of regulators in Europe started asking Google some serious questions about Street View. The European Regulators wanted to know what data Google collects in the mapping process, and what it does with that data.

About two weeks ago Google posted a blog post and claimed that “Google does not collect or store payload data” – which is the actual information being transmitted by users over unprotected networks.

That was a lie. A more recent post admits to that lie and says: “…it’s now clear that we have been mistakenly collecting samples of payload data from open (i.e. non-password-protected) WiFi networks, even though we never used that data in any Google products.”

Now Google could be accused of intercepting private communications and violating wiretap laws in the United States. A legal shit-storm is bound to happen.

In the mean time,  remember: Trust No One, and password-protect your WiFi. You never know who might be looking through your data.